26 Jan 2026
EC takes stock of implementation of EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy
On 26 January 2026, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, hosted the third European Startup and Scaleup Forum in Brussels, bringing together founders, investors and other industry leaders from across Europe.
Eight months after the adoption of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Forum provided an opportunity to take stock of implementation progress, assess early impact and identify priorities for the months ahead. The EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy had been adopted in May 2025 and includes a comprehensive set of actions. Key actions are focused on fostering innovation-friendly regulation, improving access to finance, accelerating market uptake and expansion, attracting and retaining the best talent and facilitating access to infrastructure, networks and services.
Discussions at the Startup and Scaleup Forum focused on how key actions under the Strategy are translating into concrete results for startups and scaleups, including:
- the launch of the European Business Wallet in November 2025 simplifying cross-border business through a single digital identity
- the proposal for the next long-term budget, which foresees a tripling of the budget for the European Innovation Council (EIC)
- the call for proposals to establish a network of European Startup & Scaleup Hubs, with the winning consortium expected to be announced at the EIC Summit in June 2026
Looking ahead, upcoming initiatives under the Strategy were also presented, including the European Innovation Act and the 28th regime, which will make it easier to start and scale across Europe, as well as the launch of the Scaleup Europe Fund, a new, multi-billion fund to invest in the most promising European companies in strategic deep tech areas. Furthermore, the Commission will develop a European Innovation Investment Pact with institutional investors, and an Action Plan for Women in Research, Innovation and Startups, to address gender disparities in research and innovation.
For more information:
EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy